Why is filtering up the left dangerous?

[Davidsw8]

In general each road is different and I would say that whilst I would prefer to filter on the right sometimes I feel it is safer on the left. However whilst passing stationary traffic you need to be aware that the passenger may decide to exit the vehicle at that very point and the first thing you know is when the door opens in front of you.

Indeed, I saw a car stop a couple metres short of a junction last night (hadn't pulled over to the kerb), the passenger opened her door and *bang* and knocked a cyclist clean off her bike. The cyclist was ok but very peed off!

 

[dodd82]

All traffic moves. Sometimes it just stops, then starts moving again...

Yes, so when it is stopped...

Do we really need to continue this?

 

[ManiaMuse]

My preference is to filter on the right or down the middle. Means I can see oncoming traffic/oncoming traffic can see me, I can see vehicles emerging from side roads/they can see me, the cars I am overtaking are more likely to see me and I have more options if a pedestrian steps out from nowhere. Less likely to get a door opened on you as well.

Oh and the left turning lorry thing as well...

I won't rule out filtering down the left if the right/middle is blocked by traffic islands, but will be very cautious and look ahead to consider whether it is safe and worth it. Fact is drivers don't check their left mirror when crawling in traffic.

The biggest problem imo are the nodders who blindly go down the left and squeeze along tiny gaps without looking what is ahead.

 

[Risex4]

Break out the MB and filter over the top of cars. That'll learn 'em.

Joking aside, I actually almost exclusively filter down the left. Down here in Exeter the roads still more or less retain their medieval design being somewhat narrow, and filtering down the right can be quite harzardous. When I do filter, I will crawl down the inside if the traffic is fairly static and normal cars - nothing highsided. Else I'll happily sit in car-stylee and not bother. I can generally match urban car speeds and acceleration on roads limited to 20-30 and almost always congested, so I'd rather just protect my spot in the flow then faff around with filtering either way; it makes the turns both left and right so much easier when you have established your place in the que.

 

[Norm]

... but I would suggest there is a much greater risk of some nobber on a motorbike or scooter coming flying up the middle of the road and crashing into me.

And I would suggest that there is a lower risk of a 'nobber' on a motorbike riding straight into me than there is of a passenger opening their car door.

Motorbikes and scooters are used to motorbikes and scooters coming the other way... they are visible through their visors, after all. Car drivers and passengers do not get the same level of visibility of an overtaking cyclist on whichever side.

I'll stick to defaulting on the right but choose dependant on the local circumstances.

 

[Alien8]

Appreciate the responses to this thread, but I must reiterate - I'm not referring to moving traffic. Whe traffic is moving, I join the queue and take my time. I am simply referring to traffic that is completely stationary, and I crawl up alongside them - taking care to stop in front of a car that can see me, and not going anywhere near large vehicles that might not have seen me ahead of their pull away.

If the traffic is stationary
and there is a few feet of space
and there are no lorries, busses etc
and there are no side roads
and there are no passengers in the left side of the vehicles
and no one has their left indicator on
and there are no pedestrians trying to cross
and you won't be going through glass, gratings, potholes etc
and there are no suicidal dogs, squirrels or other wildlife
and you are not in North Wales
and when you stop you are ahead/in front/visible to the driver behind you
... you might just about be ok going up the inside.

 

[Arfcollins]

And is it overtaking if the traffic is stationary?

I'm not sure. You'd need to find an expert on the Highway Code.

 

[Bromptonaut]

As others say, it depends. The risks in stationary traffic are exiting passengers and pedestrians stepping off the kerb without looking 'cos the traffic's stopped. My London commute involves High Holborn towards Kingsway. Safest filtering is on right, there's a fair stream of eastbound traffic but road is wide enough to cope. If there's a conflict coming then I'll tuck in and stop.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

The risk I faced today was a transit van thinking it would be funny to cut me off. They looked genuinely shocked when I had to take evasive action though.

 

[atbman]

Left is how you get killed by lorries.

Don't do it unless you're very aware.

If you filter up the LH side of lorries

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

If there was a large vehicle in the queue such as a bus or lorry I wouldn't even bother filtering, even on the right. I prefer to stay away from them.

 

[ianrauk]

If there was a large vehicle in the queue such as a bus or lorry I wouldn't even bother filtering, even on the right. I prefer to stay away from them.

That is the sensible option.

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

I had a bit of a hairy moment yesterday when I was filtering along the main road out of town that always get blocked up come rush hour. Filtering on the right and approaching a left turning area in the middle of the road, then a van came round the corner and moved into said area. Had to speed up a bit to avoid getting too close to the van or the car I was passing. In hindsight I probably shouldn't have bothered.